Facebook Gives Halfhearted Support For CISPA

Facebook still mulls over support for the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protecting Act (CISPA), a moot bill reintroduced by the U.S. Congress.

The social network has not completely dropped support for the controversial bill, because it wants to take caution on how lawmakers navigate CISPA.

The bill debuted last year, and Facebook was on its initial list of warm supporters. But the updated list of firms that fervently endorse the bill no longer includes the social network and a few other firms.

Facebook still believes CISPA will improve cyber security and uphold user privacy. And it does not show a strong dislike over the legislation.

A Facebook spokesperson told Mashable in an email that the social network will keep user information protected and support any effort to help preserve its security from cyber attacks.

The missive added that the company looks forward to lend a hand to the House and the Senate, as Chairman Mike Rogers and Ranking Member Dutch Ruppersberger continue their efforts on this important issue, and promote the government’s sharing of cyber threat information with the private sector, while making sure of user privacy.

When lawmakers introduced CISPA in early 2012, Facebook VP of Public Policy Joel Kaplan called it a heedful, two-party approach that addresses critical needs in cyber security.

At the time CISPA authors House Intelligence Committee Head Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) and Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.) boasted Facebook’s strong support for the bill in press releases.

The Internet gathered again in early 2012 to oppose CISPA over fears of online privacy violations.

For some the damage has been done, as some users felt cheated on when Facebook supported CISPA, even though the social network campaigned against SOPA.

The backfire against Facebook’s support for CISPA blew up.

In April last year, the issue went out of hand that Kaplan had to write a blog post, where he assured that CISPA will not endanger user privacy on Facebook.

CISPA will not enforce new tie-ups to share user data with other people, and it ensures that if Facebook does share data on cyber threats, the company will be protect user data and privacy, wrote Kaplan in the blog.

Protagonists say CISPA is important to support and strengthen the defenses of American cyber security, while antagonists fear the government will use CISPA to monitor citizens through private businesses’ data.

The lawmakers say CISPA offers a legal method for businesses and the U.S. government to share data on cyber security threats with one another.

The House of Representatives passed CISPA last year amid threats about a veto from the White House over concerns of user privacy.

The Senate did not pick up CISPA, as the legislative body continues to discuss about alternative solutions to cyber security.

Earlier this year CISPA authors rebooted the bill in the House of Representatives after a dialogue with the White House to deal with the current administration’s privacy policies.

President Barack Obama signed in January this year an executive order (E.O.) to share cyber security intelligence with the private sector.

Privacy advocates find the sharing of information with private businesses less offensive.

The CISPA bill has yet to pass the committee before it goes up to the House.